Home buying kit

Introduction

Part 1: Getting started with buying a home. Deciding whether to buy ; Getting you financial house in order ; What can you afford to buy? ; Why home prices rise and fall

Part 2: Financing 101. Understanding and improving your credit score ; Selecting a mortgage ; Mortgage quandaries, conundrums, and forms

Part 3: Properties, players and prices. Where and what to buy ; Assembling an all-star real estate team ; What's it worth? ; Tapping the Internet's best resources

Part 4: Making the deal. Negotiating the best deal ; Inspecting and protecting your home ; It ain't over till the weight-challenged escrow officer sings

Part 5: The part of tens. Ten financial "to do's" after you buy ; Ten things to know when investing in real estate ; Ten things to consider when selling your house

Part 6: Appendixes. Sample real estate purchase contract ; Sample short-sale addendum plus short-sale information and advisory ; Example of a good inspection report ; Glossary.